Thomas Covenant 8 — The Fatal Revenant
Chapter 11: Part One — 10. Tactics of Confrontation
by Donaldson, Stephen R.Linden and her companions, Covenant and Jeremiah, emerge from Bargas Slit into the sunlight near Garroting Deep, an ancient and ominous forest. The towering trees, both evergreen and barren, exude a sense of timeless menace, their whispers carrying millennia of outrage against past slaughter. Despite the absence of immediate danger, the forest’s oppressive aura unsettles Linden, who had hoped to glimpse the distant mountains but finds her view blocked by the dense canopy. The group’s journey through the ravine has been arduous, marked by the loss of their horses and the weight of their dwindling supplies, reinforcing Linden’s sense of impending doom.
Covenant reveals that Garroting Deep, guarded by the ruthless Caerroil Wildwood, is both a threat and a strategic advantage. The forest’s inherent dangers are offset by its ability to shield them from surveillance, as the Last Hills’ stone and the trees’ rage disrupt external scrutiny. Covenant plans to travel swiftly along the hills’ edge, using short, line-of-sight movements to avoid detection. Linden, however, remains uneasy, questioning the risks of drawing the Forestal’s attention or provoking unseen adversaries. Covenant’s cryptic responses and Jeremiah’s unsettling revelation—that the trees crave human blood—deepen her apprehension.
The tension escalates as Covenant and Jeremiah prepare to use minimal magic to traverse the terrain, emphasizing stealth. Linden’s attempts to understand their strategy are met with evasion; Covenant dismisses her questions about the trees’ communications, while Jeremiah warns that naming their potential foes could attract unwanted attention. Despite her frustration at being manipulated, Linden recognizes the necessity of compliance, given her dependence on Covenant’s knowledge and her son’s safety. She reluctantly agrees to follow their instructions, though the lack of transparency fuels her distrust.
The chapter culminates in a tense standoff between Linden’s desire for clarity and her companions’ insistence on secrecy. Jeremiah assures her that their plan requires only her stillness and avoidance of physical contact, but Linden’s internal conflict reflects broader themes of agency and deception. The forest’s malevolent presence looms as a metaphor for the unknown dangers ahead, while Covenant’s ambiguous motives and Jeremiah’s erratic behavior leave Linden isolated in her uncertainty. The stage is set for a perilous journey, where the line between survival and betrayal grows increasingly blurred.
FAQs
1. How does the author establish the ominous atmosphere of Garroting Deep, and what specific elements contribute to this feeling?
Answer:
The author creates an ominous atmosphere through vivid sensory descriptions and symbolic elements. Visually, the forest is described as “dark and forbidding” with towering trees that hide the mountains beyond. The “whispering” branches in the breeze suggest sentient danger, while the “rich carpet of decay” underscores millennia of accumulated resentment from the trees’ suffering. The absence of theurgy or music—contrasted with Linden’s experience in Andelain—heightens the unease. Most significantly, the text explicitly states the trees “nurtured outrage” from centuries of slaughter, making Garroting Deep feel like a living entity poised for vengeance. Even the warmth of the area feels unnatural, as if the Forestal manipulates the environment.2. Analyze Covenant’s tactical reasoning for choosing to travel near Garroting Deep despite its dangers. What advantages does he highlight?
Answer:
Covenant justifies the route with three key advantages. First, the Last Hills’ geological rage—absorbed from the forest—combined with the stone’s sympathy for trees, creates a natural shield against surveillance (specifically from the Theomach). Second, the Forestal’s background “noise” (communication between trees) obscures their magical movements. Third, short, line-of-sight teleportation hops minimize attention from unnamed opposition. While risky, this approach balances speed and stealth. Covenant prioritizes evasion over direct confrontation, leveraging the environment’s inherent properties—a recurring theme in his strategies throughout the series.3. What internal conflict does Linden exhibit in this chapter, and how does it reflect her broader character arc?
Answer:
Linden struggles between trust and skepticism toward Covenant and Jeremiah. She questions their motives (e.g., “How does it help us?”) and notices manipulative behavior, yet suppresses her doubts to avoid conflict, as seen when she stops herself from protesting Jeremiah’s ominous revelation about the trees. This mirrors her broader arc of balancing maternal loyalty with self-reliance. Her “determination to maintain a calm facade” despite alarm underscores her growth—she now weighs risks pragmatically (e.g., accepting ignorance to avoid danger) but still grapples with Covenant’s opaque intentions.4. How does the chapter frame the relationship between humanity and nature in the Land, particularly through the lens of Garroting Deep?
Answer:
The chapter portrays nature as both victim and threat. The trees’ “outrage” stems from historical “slaughter” by humans, framing deforestation as a moral crime. Yet the forest is no passive victim; it actively “hopes” for human blood, with Caerroil Wildwood embodying retribution. This duality reflects the Land’s broader ecological themes: nature is a sentient force that responds to harm. The stone’s sympathy for trees further blurs boundaries between kingdoms, suggesting an interconnected world where human actions have profound, animate consequences.5. Evaluate Jeremiah’s role in this chapter. How does his behavior contrast with Covenant’s, and what might his insights reveal about his true nature?
Answer:
Jeremiah oscillates between unsettling knowledge and apparent vulnerability. He accurately interprets the trees’ malice—a detail Covenant dismisses—hinting at hidden perceptiveness. His diffidence (“Actually, Mom…”) contrasts with Covenant’s impatience, positioning him as a mediator. Yet his rapid shifts (from anger to equanimity) and cryptic warnings about opposition suggest either trauma or manipulation. The twitching muscle and “soiled gaze” imply internal conflict, raising questions about his autonomy. His role here deepens the mystery of whether he’s a pawn, a reluctant ally, or something more sinister.
Quotes
1. “Standing under the sun on the bare hillside beside the ravine’s small rivulet, she felt that she was in the presence of something ancient, ineffable, and threatening.”
This quote captures Linden’s first impression of Garroting Deep, establishing the forest’s ominous and primal nature. It sets the tone for the chapter’s exploration of danger and ancient power in the Land.
2. “For millennia, the trees of the Land had suffered slaughter; and here, in their potent and baleful heart, they nurtured outrage.”
This powerful statement reveals the deep history of conflict between humans and the forest, explaining the source of Garroting Deep’s threatening atmosphere. It provides crucial backstory for understanding the forest’s hostility.
3. “There are times when it’s useful to be stuck between a rock and a hard place.”
Covenant’s cryptic remark represents the chapter’s central tactical dilemma and foreshadows their dangerous strategy. This quote encapsulates the difficult choices the characters must make in their journey.
4. “The Last Hills have soaked up a lot of rage from the Deep. And of course, the stone of the Land has always sympathized with trees. All that rock and indignation will shield us pretty thoroughly.”
This explanation reveals Covenant’s tactical thinking about using the environment’s natural energies for protection. It demonstrates the deep interconnection between different elements of the Land’s ecology and magic.
5. “They hope we’ll go into the forest. They like the taste of human blood.”
Jeremiah’s chilling revelation about the trees’ intentions heightens the chapter’s tension and danger. This quote vividly conveys the mortal threat posed by Garroting Deep and its inhabitants.